Sporting Digest: Cricket

CURTLY AMBROSE, the West Indian fast bowler, will miss Northamptonshire's final Championship match against Essex tomorrow with a shoulder injury.

MANOJ PRABHAKAR, whose indisposition earlier this year was responsible for Warwickshire singing Brian Lara, will make a belated county debut next summer as Durham's overseas player, while Sussex ended months of speculation yesterday by re-signing Franklyn Stephenson.

ARJUNA RANATUNGA hit 59 from 74 balls to lead Sri Lanka to victory by six wickets over Australia yesterday and secure a place in the final of the four-nation Singer World Series one- day tournament in Colombo.

SINGER WORLD SERIES (Colombo): Australia 225 for 6 (50 overs; M G Bevan 47no, M A Taylor 41); Sri Lanka 164 for 4 (34.4 overs; A Ranatunga 59). Sri Lanka win by six wickets in rain-reduced match.

RAPID CRICKETLINE SECOND XI CHAMPIONSHIP (Second day of three; 10.30 today): Ilford: Nottinghamshire 300 for 9 dec (R A Pick 98); Essex 127 for 2 (D D J Robinson 98). Hove: Sussex 276 (K Newell 64; G Keedy 4 for 62, L Weekes 4-91); Yorkshire 69 for 3. Vine Lane: Derbyshire 315 for 6 dec (ME Cassar 62no) and 33 for 0; Middlesex 396 (R L Johnson 81, J C Pooley 76, K P Dutch 64, R Rao 50). Bristol: Somerset 120 (A Smith 5 for 54) and 36 for 1; Gloucestershire 210 (R Cunliffe 53). The Oval: Surrey 279 (M Lynch 126; R Green 5 for 64) and 28 for 1; Lancashire 253-7 dec (R Green 80no). New Eltham: Kent 300 for 4 dec (M Fleming 117, N Llong 107) and 120 for 4; Northamptonshire 300 for 5 dec (T Harrison 78, R Montgomerie 61, D Sales 62).